Scientific methodA way of thinking

1) Observation which leads to a question2) Questions then lead to a hypothesis3) A good hypothesis then leads to a test4) Once tested, results are collected5) results are then interpreted to reach a conclusion6) Upon reaching a conclusion, the results are communicated

Observation versus inference

• Observations are done with your 5 senses: taste, smell, touch, hearing, sight. No judgements are added

• Inferences are added to observations in an attempt to explain the observation

Hypothesis• Everyone knows that a hypothesis is an

educated guess, but what does that mean? You must have some knowledge about the actual topic before you can make a guess. If you don't have any knowledge then you must research

• The other aspect of a hypothesis is that it must be testable. If you can't test it then it is just a guess and can never go farther than that

Experiment• You must be able to control as many influences

as possible. Whenever possible try to have only one dependent variable

• Variables: something that changes

• Independent variable: it is the variable that you control or manipulate yourself

• Dependent variable: it is the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable. It depends on he independent variable.

Conclusion• A conclusion is broken down into 2 parts:

discussion, and conclusion/theory

• Discussion is drawn which addresses specific data, possible errors, and leading to new experiments

• Conclusion is a final discussion which compares data to the hypothesis and declares a theory of the outcomes

Communication

• Scientific communication is done by communicating and discussing results and theories arrived at during this process. Communication is done within the scientific community and aids in arriving at the best possible explanation.

Theory vs Law

• Theories are explanations that fit the current outcome and could explain it

• Laws are agreed upon set of standards by the scientific community which renders theories as close to facts as possible